Mail-distributing indicator



Patented Sept. [3, I898.,

P. BRANDELL.

MAIL DISTRIBUTING INDICATOR.

(Application filed Sept. 29, 1897.)

(No Model.)

' I [III B I llnrrnn States Patent @rtrcn.

PETER BRANDELL, OF COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOYVA.

MAIL-DISTRIBUTING INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 610,621, dated September 13, 1898.

Application filed September 29, 1897. Serial No. 653,462. (No model.) i

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PETER BRANDELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Council Bluffs, in the county of Pottawattamie and State of Iowa, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Mail-Indicators, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in mail-compartment indicators, and has for its object to provide an exceedingly simple, cheap, and effective device adapted to be used in connection with the assortment of mail either in cars or post-offices, and by its use the various destinations of the mail-matter is readily designated and maybe changed from time to time as the destination of the particular mail being assorted is changed.

lVith these ends in view this invention c011- sists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claim.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, the construction and operation will now be described in detail, referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of an indicator made in accordance with my improvement; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section of one of the indicators and the brackets therefor; Fig. 3, a cross-section of the drum or indicator-barrel; and Fig. 4, a detail perspective of one of the brackets, showing a foot formed there with adapted to be secured to a cylindrical surface, such as a pipe or tube. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the drum or barrel, showing manner of arranging the strips to form the guides or ways.

In carrying out my invention as here embodied I provide a drum or barrel A, here shown as rectangular in cross-section, so as to present four flat surfaces for the support of the tags secured upon this barrel. I provide strips L along the corners of the drum or barrel, as clearly shown in Fig. 5, and secure the strip 13 around the first-named strips and the drum at one end thereof. Tongues B project from the strip B and extend parallel with and lie on the strips L. These tongues B have their sides bent inwardly to partially inclose the corners and form, with the sides of the drum or barrel, ways in which cards or tags can be inserted by passing the same under the tongues at their outer ends,

as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, after which the addresses appearing upon the tags will be in plain view for ready observation. By this arrangement it will be seen that not only can the tags be readily placed into position, but when other addresses are to be used other tags may be as readily substituted therefor.

Brackets D and E, having suitable feet for securement to the desired surface, are set at the proper distance apart, and between each pair of these brackets extends a spindle F, so that the barrel, which is fitted upon the spindle, may revolve thereon when it is desirable to change one of the addresses upon the barrel for another. The bracket D has projecting therefrom the locking pins G, which are adapted to enter suitable holes formed in the head of the drum orbarrel, and a spring 11 is interposed between a shoulder I, formed upon the spindle and this head of the drum, so as to always give it a tendency to move toward the bracket G, by which arrangement it is obvious that when the holes register with the locking-pins the spring will force the drum toward the bracket, thereby causing thepins to enter these holes and securely lock the drum against accidental rotation; but at any time it becomes desirable to revolve the drum it is only necessary to force it longitudinally upon thespindle in the direction of the arrow, marked adjacent thereto in Fig. 2,'t0 disengage the holes from the pins, and after the drum has been revolved to the proper position by again releasing the same it will reenter into engagement with the pins, thus again holding it against accidental displacement.

From the foregoing description it is obvious that great convenience will be had by the use of my improvement, since the distributor of mail may quickly change the designation to any particular compartment by the manipulation of the device, as above set forth, and when a complete change of designations is desired the tags may be removed and others substituted therefor. In practice these indicators may be arranged in series, the brackets E having locking-pins E for engagement with the head of the next succeeding drum, and so on throughout the series.

When my improvement is to be fitted to a distributing-case, having a pipe-rail for the suspension of the mail-bags, the brackets should be provided with feet of the description shown in Fig. 4: and designated by the letter J, each of said feet having a concaved under surface adapted to fit against said pipe, and a hole K for the passage of a screw for its securement.

Those having occasion to distribute large quantities of mail intended for different destinations will readily recognize the advantage and great utility of this improvement, and its exceeding simplicity and cheapness of manufacture and ease with which it may be manipulated for adjustment will readily recommend it to the mail service.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim as new and useful is- In a mail-indicator, a drum polygonal in cross-section, strips placed on each edge of said drum, and a strip adapted to be secured around said drum at one end thereof, said strip having tongues projecting therefrom and lying on the strips placed onv the edges, each of said tongues having its sides bentin- Ward to partially inclose the corner, producing guideways with the sides of the drum, as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

PETER BRANDELL.

V Vitnesses:

S. S. WILLIAMsoN, ALVA W. DENNIs. 

